Insulated hanger



Nov. 21, 1944. R P, HANNA Em 2,363,318

INSULATED HANGER Filed Jan. 24, 1940 WITNESSES: I INVENTORS Raymond RHanna and Patented Nov. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INSULATED HANGER Raymond P. Hanna and Bennie A. Rose, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 24, 1940, Serial No. 315,336 6 Claims. (Cl. 174 -160) Our invention relates generally to insulated hangers or supports and it has reference, in particular, to adjustable insulated hangers for sup porting trolley conductors from overhead span wires or the like.

Generally stated, it is an object of our invention to provide an adjustable hanger for trolley conductors which may be readily attached to an overhead-span wire or the like.

More specifically, it is an object of our invention to provide a hanger for trolley conductors which is adjustable for permitting the proper alignment of the conductor regardless of whether obliquely inclined or'horizontal span wires are used, and which may be readily attached to a span wire so as to maintain the conductor in the proper alignment.

Another object of our invention is to provide an adjustable hanger which may be secured to a adjustment thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a simple and effective manner for locking the relatively adjustable parts of an adjustable trolley conductor hanger in fixed relation.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide an adjustable hanger which may be readily and economically manufactured, and which may be easily installed.

Other objects will in part be obvious, and will in part appear hereinafter.

An adjustable hanger for supporting a trolley conductor constructed in accordance with our invention may comprise a support member for attachment to an overhead span wire or the like, and an insulator member suspended therefrom for supporting the conductor by means of a trolley ear or the like. In order to permit the conductor to be properlyaligned regardless of varying angles of the span wire relative thereto, the insulator member may be suspended from the support member so as to'provide for relative angular movement therebetween in a plurality of directions. The support member may then be secured to a span wire -or the like so that the wire is utilized to lock the members in fixed relation. For example, adjustable clamping means may be provided for securing the support mem- "ber to a span wire, and also securing the support member and the insulator member in fixed relation to each other after the proper alignment of the conductor has been obtained.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of our invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a hanger the drawing, the reference numeral l0 denotes generally an adjustable insulated hanger comprising, for example, an insulator member l2 having a support stud ll depending therefrom for supporting a trolley ear (not shown) or the like, to which a trolley conductor may be secured, suitable means such as the support member [6 for attachment to a span wire I8 of the overhead trolley conductor system, and a connecting mem ber 20 suitably attached to the insulator member l2 for adjustably securing the insulator member to the support member.

The insulator member l2 may be of any suitable nature, comprising, for example, an inverted substantially cup-shaped metallic shell or body member 22. The shell 22 may be provided with suitable means for securing the stud l4 thereto such as, for example, the annular depending flange 24, which may be positioned therein, having an inwardly-turned lower edge portion 26, to provide a receptacle for the enlarged head portion 28 of the stud I 4 so that the threaded lower portion 30 dependstherefrom. The side walls 32 of the flange 24 may be substantially parallel to the surface of the head 28 so as to provide a relatively free passage therebetween forthe flow of interposed insulating material 34. The insulating material 34 may be moulded under heat and pressure in a manner well known in the art,

' fiowof the insulating material may be secured and the mechanical and electrical properties of the interposed insulation greatly improved, so as to obtain the maximum insulating value with a minimum of mechanical clearance between the parts, without any impairment of the mechanical properties.

With a view to-adjustably suspending the insulator member l2 from the support member IS, the insulator member may be provided with suitable means such as, for example, the connecting member 20. The connecting member may, for example, comprise a projection on the upper surface of the shell 22, having a relatively narrow neck portion adjacent the shell, and an enlarged head or ball-shaped portion 42 at the upper end thereof. The connecting member 20 may be secured to the shell 22 in any suitable manner,v being, for example, formed integrally therewith.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of thedrawing, it will be seen that the support member is may comprise an enlarged central body portion 44 having longitudinally projecting arms 45 at the ends, with grooves 43therein on the upper surface for receiving the span wire [8. In order to adjustably suspend the insulator member 12 from the support member l6, anopening may be provided in the central portion of the body member 44 having downwardly converging sidewalls so as to provide a socket or recess 52 on the upper side of the body member 44 for receiving and movably securing the enlarged head or ball 42 of the connecting member 28 therein.

The head 42 may be positioned therein in' any suitable manner, the socket 52 being, for example, provided with a side opening 55 of sufficient width to receive the neck portion 40 of the connecting member 20 so as to permit the enlarged head 42 to be positioned in the socket 552 to movably suspend the insulator member l2 from the support member [6.

In order to prevent rotation ofthe insulator member 52 relative to the support member [6 about a substantially vertical axis, suitable means may be provided on the insulator member and the support member for engagement, such as, for example, the depending ear 58 on the body member 54 of the support member, and the upstanding ear 69 on the shell 22 ofthe insulator member. A trolley conductor ear may then be threaded onto the support stud l4 merely by preventing the support member alone from turning, without havingto separately hold the insulator member.

For the purpose of securing the support member to a spanwire l8,suitable means such as the clamp member 62 may be provided. The clamp member 62 may, for example, comprise an elongated. body portion '64 having a groove 66 along the lower side for receiving the span wire N.

The clamp member may be secured to the body portion 44 of the support member l6 with the groove 66 in alignment with the grooves 48 of the support'member to provide a channel therebetween for receiving the span wire l8, by means of bolts 6 8. The body portion 64 may be provided with means such as the extending side portion H3 having a depending portion 12 for providing a fulcrum when the bolts 58 are tightened to draw the span wire down into the grooves 48.

In order to permit the span wire Hi to be secured in a predetermined relation to the enlarged head 420i. the connecting member 20 so that when the bolts 68 are tightened the connecting member 20 may be locked in the socket 52 to secure the insulating member l2 in fixed relation to the support member It, the grooves 48 and 56 may be centrally positioned with respect to the socket or recess 52. The groove 66 may be upwardly inclined at its central portion so that the span wire l8 may be secured to the support member l6 and yet allow the ball-shaped head of the connecting member to move relatively freely in the socket 52 in order to obtain universal movement of the insulator member relative to the support member for aligning the conductor especially when the span wire is obliquely inclined thereto. The relatively movable parts may then be locked in fixed relation to each other by tightening the bolts 68 to press the wire I8 against the head of the connecting member 20.

If desired, a suitable saddle or wear member 69 Y may be inserted between the wire l8 and the enlarged head 42 to protect the wire from any undue wear or deformation. As shown in Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawing, the wear or saddle'member may comprise a substantially U-shaped sheath ofa relatively ductile material such as brass, bronze, copper or the like, having upstanding sides H which may be pressed inwardly to secure the wear member to the wire 18 at the point where the hanger is to be attached. The lower side may be provided with a recess 13 to receive the upper portion of the enlarged head 42, and thus provide a wear surface between the wire and the enlarged head.

A hanger embodying the principal features of our invention may be readily assembled by tipping the insulator member sideways to insert the head 42 in the socket 52, with the neck 40 in the side opening 56 thereof, and rotating the insulator member about a substantially horizontal axis through the head 42, so that it is suspended from the support member I6 in movable relation. The support member may then be attached to a span wire l8 by placing itwith the span wire in alignment with the grooves 48, placing the clamp member 62 thereupon and inserting and tightening the bolts 68. The insulator member may be moved relative to the support member 16 and the span wire it to obtain the proper alignment of the trolley wire supported thereby. The trolley wire or conductor may then be secured in the roper alignment by further tightening the bolts 8 to draw the wire l8 into close engagement with the enlarged head 42 of the connecting member 20, thus securing the insulator member 12 and the support member [6 in fixed relation to each other.

In Fig. 5 a modification of the in ention is i1- lustrated. In this embodiment the insulator member l2 may be provided with suitable means to increase the frictional engagement between the span wire and the enlarged head 42 thereof, such as, for example, the peripheral grooves or steps 14, or other means of a similar nature. if desired.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that we have, by our invention, provided in a simple and effective manner for supporting a trolley conductor or the like in a predetermined alignment from an obliquely inclined span wire of an overhead trolley conductor system. Such a hanger is simple to construct, and inexpensive to manufacture. It is extremely easy to install, since the span wire need merely be inserted 1 therein by loosening the bolts of the clamping span wire comprising, a body member having a substantially spherical projection on the upper side connected thereto by a reduced neck portion, a support member positioned below the wire having a groove on the upper side to receive the wire and having an opening therethrough alined with the groove to receive the reduced neck portion of the body member, said opening being provided with a substantially spherical recess at the upper end of the opening to receive and retain the spherical projection of the body member whereby the body member is universally suspended in axial alinement with the span wire, a clamp member positioned above the span wire, and means operatively connecting the clamp and support members for biasing the members together to simultaneously grip the span wire and lock the spherical projection in fixed relation in the re cess.

2. A support for securing a trolley wire to a span wire comprising, a body member having a supporting stud at the lower end, a support member having a socket, means for securing the support member to the span wire, and means secured to the upper end of the body member having an enlarged head portion positioned in the socket of the support member in engagement with the span wire to secure the body member in adjustable relation to the support member.

3. A support for securing a trolley wire to a span wire comprising, a body member having means adjacent the lower end for supporting a trolley wire ear, a member having a groove for receiving the span wire and a socket on the upper side with an opening therefrom on one side, support means for securing the body member to the said member comprising a projection on the upper surface of the body member having an enlarged head positioned in the socket to suspend the body member from the said member and provide for universal movement of the body member relative to the said member, and means positioned above the said member for simultaneously securing the span wire to th said member and increasing the frictional engagement of the enlarged head of the support means with the walls of the socket.

4. An insulated hanger for attachment to a span wire comprising, a support member positioned below the span wire provided with an opening therethrough having a socket on the upper side, a body member having a stud at one end and support means at the other end having an enlarged head disposed to be positioned in the socket and a portion extending through the opening for securing the body member and the sup port member in movable relationyand means including a clamp member positioned above the wire for simultaneously securing the span wire to the support member and preventing relative movement of the support member and the body member.

5. A hanger disposed to be secured to a span wire comprising, a body member having at one end an integral headed support positioned on the outer surface thereof, a support member for attachment to a span wire provided with an opening therethrough of reduced dimension at the lower side having a relatively narrow side opening to provide a socket for receiving the headed support of the body member to interlock the body member and support member in adjustable relation, an adjustable clamp member for securing the span wire to the support member in alinement with the headed support to press the span wire against the headed support to secure the body member and the support member in fixed relation, and a wear saddle interposed between the span wire and the headed support.

6. An adjustable hanger for attachment to span wires which are at different angles to the horizontal comprising, a body member having a substantially spherical projection connected thereto on the upper side by a reduced neck portion, a support member positioned below the wire for supporting the body member having a groove on the upper side for receiving the span wire and an opening therethrough for the reduced neck portion of the body member with its axis intersecting the groove and provided with a substantially spherical recess at theupper end to receive the spherical projection of the body member, a. clamp member positioned above the span wire, and means connecting the support and clamp members operable to bias the members together to secure the hanger on span wires substantially centrally beneath them and at different angles to the horizontal and permit angular adjustment of the body member in a vertical plane through the span wire to a predetermined angular position, said means being further operable to lock the spherical projection in fixed relation in the recess.

RAYMOND P. HANNA. BENNIE A. ROSE. 

